How To Properly Handle And Store Clothing

Basically, metal hangers are cheapest type and the most commonly available. They are not, however, the best for your clothing. Depending upon their structure, they can damage your clothes, stretching them out of shape. Plain, wire hangers can leave rust markings and they are not always the sturdiest, bending under the weight of heavier clothing.

Select plastic or purchase padded wire hangers. They will not stain your clothes, nor stretch them unduly. Your sheer blouses and delicate outfits fare better with this type of hanger.

In some instances, it is better to rely on hooks. They can be hung over a closet, bathroom or bedroom door. Built to last, they can take the extra weight of heavy garments such as bathrobes. Pajamas and other casual wear-at-home clothing can be hung from hooks without worrying about wrinkling or damage. Furthermore, one particular hook can be set aside to be used to hang your clothing for the next day.

Do not use dry cleaning bags. They do not allow anything to breathe. The same can be said of placing some clothing within plastic or air tight containers. Wool and silk are two materials that need to breathe. Keep them in out of plastic and away from air tight containers.

If you wish, you can use a garment bag for storage of bulky items such as sweaters or for simple t-shirts and blue jeans. It is not, however, necessary to hang either jeans or t-shirts. They can be placed on shelves or in your dresser drawers. Socks and panty hose can be placed in drawers, but they can also be hung in the closet in a shoe bag or large cloth bag. The advantage of using a shoe bag is you can organize the socks and hose by types.

Organization is the key to proper storage of clothing. You can orderly place your clothing in any number of ways. They can be hung according to function: blouses, shirts, skirts, etc., color and/or length. In some closets where the levels vary, either naturally or through the addition of stackable containers, it might be easier to hang them according to length.

There are some sections considered necessary when you divide your clothing. If you have special clothing, party dresses, and other special occasional clothes you might want to put them in a less prominent place. As for the seasonal clothing, place them in a storage area. They can be hidden high up on a top shelve or put at the very back of the closet. It all depends upon your closet’s capabilities.

There is one school of thought that encourages discarding all poles, replacing them with shelving. This might seem like a good idea, but it does not take into consideration wrinkling and the “fear of ironing” syndrome.

One final thought. When organizing your closet always sort through what you have and discard what you don’t need, never wear and no longer fit into. Culling your closet will make it easier for you to hang and store all your clothing.